Nike Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0: A Great New Version Of The Shoe

Nike sticks with what works: the signature snake-scale traction pattern that made the original Kobe 6 a go-to for hoopers. This traction setup grips the floor beautifully, providing an excellent court feel and stopping power. Out of the box, the traction can be a little slick, but once broken in, it’s top-tier. The sole is constructed with solid rubber, which offers great multi-directional coverage.

Once the traction is properly broken-in this is one of the best Kobes ever in terms of traction, and of almost any hoop shoe in general. Now, we doubt anyone on this planet would use a pair of Kobe 6s outdoors, but if you do you’re going to burn through the traction quickly. That translucent rubber is on the softer side and the traction pattern is very shallow, so if you’re planning on hooping in these (and you really should), make sure to do so indoors.

One of the most noticeable changes in the Nike Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0 is the upgraded cushioning. The original Kobe 6 featured a Phylon midsole, a large volume Zoom Air Unit in the heel, and a small circular Zoom unit under the ball of your foot (known as a metbag). This original setup was great, but this protro setup is a step above as far as comfort and compression goes, but, if you liked the original, these will feel rather different.

The Protro version replaces the original setup with a Cushlon midsole and a larger Zoom Turbo unit that covers the entire forefoot of the shoe. This combination of cushioning tech makes for a nice responsive experience on court, with enough impact protection to keep your legs fresh. Overall, the new Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0 strikes a balance between court feel, bounce, and comfort.

Materials on the Kobe 6 were super innovative back in 2010, and still hold up in terms of performance in 2023. The shoe’s upper is constructed by covering a layer of very thin Skin Fuse (originally featured on the Kobe 5) with an outer shell of micro mesh. This setup is very lightweight and super thin, which could have caused durability and containment issues.

To prevent this, Nike decided to cover the shoe in the now iconic polyurethane scales. Nike made some interesting material changes with this iteration. The lateral side features a brand new star-themed scaled texture, while the medial side has the standard snake-skin synthetic look. These scales add structure to the shoe and boost its containment, similar to the mud splatter print featured on the Jordan Zion 3.

The scales feel thicker and more plastic-like compared to the OG, which may slightly affect flexibility but improves durability. The underlay still consists of TPU mesh with Flywire strands, maintaining the lockdown and structure that made the original Kobe 6 a favorite. The tongue is one of the most exciting features, as it retains Nike’s Torch system, which was removed in the latest Kobe 5 Protro.

Support and containment are surprisingly great on such a minimalistic basketball shoe. The Kobe 6 features a very wide and stable outsole, a carbon fiber shank plate, and a prominent TPU heel counter. The Kobe 6 also comes with a great insole designed to mold to your foot the more you wear the shoe. Kobe wanted a shoe that molded to his foot and that’s exactly what he got.

All of this, coupled with the construction of the upper makes for a very secure ride on court. The shoe molds perfectly to your foot and all of the support features keep you securely strapped in. The heel counter remains one of the best ever, cradling the foot securely without adding bulk. Nike nailed the balance between lightweight mobility and containment, making this one of the best supportive low-tops available.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0 runs extremely snug, even tighter than the OGs. While the original Kobe 6 would break in over time, the Protro version doesn’t seem to stretch as much, possibly due to the thicker scales and upper materials. Going up half a size will still provide a snug fit, though 1 full size might be too much. For those who had trouble breaking in previous Protro models (like the Reverse Grinch), expect similar struggles here.

The Nike Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0 is an excellent performer that stays true to Kobe Bryant’s legacy. Traction is outstanding, once broken in, cushioning is responsive, but some may miss the original Zoom Air configuration, materials are durable and functional, and the support features make these one of the best low-top designs for lockdown and stability. As far as fit goes, these do run very tight so you might consider going up half a size.

If you loved the original Kobe 6, the Kobe 6 Protro Sail All-Star 2.0 will feel familiar, but with modern tweaks that make it even better for today’s game. It’s one of the best Kobe 6 Protros Nike has dropped yet.